Trolley hoist



Dec. 15, 1936. B, F FlTCH 2,063,914

TROLLEY HOIST Filed Oct. 4, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l ffff 3mm LZ fg ik] @fw 79m@ Mm 1 @MU 1 @www4 B. F. FITCH TROLLEY HOIST Dec. 15, 1936,

Filed Oct. 4, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 @www 7. @75,5

@w 7660/5 @9M/M' VWM,

Dec. 15, 19136. B. F, FTC|| 2,063,914

TROLLEY HoIsT Filed Oct. 4, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 E f 5 5, f/

2/ Fig. 7

-70 //0\ 70N Ef. 5

,77 72W Vw vl VWM y M @w 7950@ {L/n@ PWM Dec. l5, 1936. B, F, FlTCH TROLLEY HoIsT Filed Oct. 4, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @w 79M? MM f Wwf Patented Dec. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TROLLEY HOIST Application October 4,

20 Claims.

This invention relates to a trolley hoist or traveling crane adapted to lift and transport demountable automobile bodies with their loads to effect their transference between different vehicles or between a vehicle and a station platform or support. The hoist may be mounted to travel on stationary overhead tracks or may be on top of a gantry, as desired. In either case I have provided four depending cables supported at four corners of a rectangle and adapted to be secured to a demountable automobile body, or to a cradle which may be attached to such body, and I provide means by which two of such cable supports may be shifted laterally as a unit with reference to the other two, so that area served by the cables may be effectively registered with a truck which need not stand in parallel or right-angle relationship to the crane.

The weaving mechanism just referred to not only enables the 'crane to operate effectively for engaging or positioning a body with reference to a truck which stands somewhat askew with reference to the crane, but it also enables me to employ, in the raising mechanism, two drums from each of which two of the cables pass, one depending directly to the load and the other passing laterally and thence over a sheave to the load, since the lateral travel of such cables, as they wind on or off of the drums, may, if desired, be compensated by operation of the weaving mechanism at the other end to correspondingly position the other two cables. Accordingly, the weaving mechanism is available either to cause skewing of the depending cable reaches to register with the correspondingly positioned body, or to prevent the slight skewing which naturally results from the use of cables leading directly from the drums. By reason of this provision, I avoid the necessity of guide sheaves for the directly depending cables, simplifying the construction and inducing greater efliciency and less wear on the cables.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide such a weaving crane with four cable lift in a form which shall be comparatively light in construction and at the same time very strong and powerful.

Another object of the invention is to provide a four-cable crane so designed that the raising mechanisms will all be located adjacent the regions of support of the crane, thus minimizing the bending moments in the intermediate bridge of the crane, which must be of considerable horizontal extent to enable the engagementwith a large size demo-untable truck body.

1934, Serial No. 746,826

One of the 'characteristics of my improved trolley hoist contributing to this object is the provision of a pair of frames, each carrying wheels mounted respectively on parallel suspended trackways, and a bridge rigidly connected with both frames, combined with cable supporting members (whether winding drums or guide sheaves) which are mounted directly beneath the trackways, and mechanism for shifting the sheaves with reference to the crane frame to effect the weaving.

The power mechanism is carried immediately adjacent the winding drums. The bridge of the crane, which must beof considerable length, is accordingly relieved of bending moments and other stresses which would come upon it if it carried the driving mechanism coupled with lift mechanism at each end, and hence a much lighter bridge construction is permissible.

To enable the weaving without changing the elevation of that end of the suspended body, I provide radius rods leading from the other end of the hoist, these rods being pivotally mounted substantially in the vertical plane of the winding drums and being connected with carriages at the other end of the hoist frame which support the sheaves, these carriages being movable on short trackways carried by the hoist frame. This simplifles the support for the cables at the weaving end of the crane, while suitable power mechanism mounted at that end enables the two sheave carriages to be moved as a unit in one direction or the other to effect the weaving.

Finally, in simplifying and reducing the weight of the crane frame I mount the different motors which operate the winding drums, the. trolleying of the hoist frame and the shifting of the weaving carriages on the outer side of the trackway supports, such motors being carried by extensions of the frame construction at the two ends. This further relieves the intermediate bridge of the necessity of carrying a load and enables the bridge to be very light and still effective.

My invention is hereinafter more fully explained in connection with the drawings, which show a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan partly broken away of a traveling crane embodying my invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections thereof on the lines 2--2 and 3-3 respectively in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an end view partially in section, as indicated by the line 4-4 on Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 are verticalsections on the planes indicated by the lines 5-5 and 6--6 on Fig. 1, but on a materially larger scale; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the plane indicated by the line 'I-I on Fig. 4, but on a larger scale; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic end elevation illustrating the hoisting mechanism in the act of raising a demountable body from a highway truck; Fig. 9 is an end view of the weaving end of the crane showing the weaving mechanism in its normal position; Fig. 10 is a similar view indicating in full lines the weaving mechanism in one extreme postion and in broken lines the other extreme position; Figs. 11 and 12 are details of the weaving carriage being vertical sections on the correspondingly numbered lines on Fig. 3.

In the drawings I5 and I6 indicate a pair of parallel supporting rails shown as of I-beam form. These rails may be carried in any suitable manner as suspended from a stationary structure, or mounted at the top of a gantry. Associated with each rail I5 and i5 is a frame extending longitudinally of the rail, beneath the rail and onto opposite sides of it, and carrying wheels 30 riding on the lower anges of the respective I-beams I5 and I6. These two frames are rigidly connected by a transverse bridge, thus providing a rectangular crane frame having four regions of support adjacent the corners tracking on the two trackways. There are, however, special features of construction of such crane frame which will now be described.

The individual frame at the power end of the crane comprises two parallel inwardly facing angle bars ZI, shown in cross-section in various views. These angles are connected by the main longitudinal beams 2G of the bridge, which are also angle bars and are riveted or welded to the angle bars 2i. The bridge angles extend beyond the outermost member 2i for the. purpose of supporting the hoisting motor and other parts, as hereinafter described. At the weaving end of the crane I provide two angles 22 corresponding to the angles 2I at the power end. These angles are also connected together by rigid attachment to the longitudinal bridge beams 24, which extend beneath these angles.

The individual frames composed of the respective angles ZI and 22 on either side of the respective rails I5 and I6 have mounted in them shafts 35, which carry the trolleying wheels 30. As indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, the shafts 35 are mounted in ball bearings 36 in the vertical legs of the individual frames, each wheel being rigid on its shaft. A sleeve 36 carried by the shaft 35 spaces the wheel with respect to its supporting angle 2I or 22. The elimination of these sleeves, or the substitution of sleeves of other length, permits the use of the apparatus on I beam tracks of other sizes. The shafts for four of these wheels, two on each rail I5 and IE, are provided with gears 3T, which mesh with pinions 38 on a through shaft 49, extending parallel with the adjacent bridge beam 24, the shaft being intermediately supported by a bearing 4I carried by the bridge. The shafts carrying the gears 31 and the pinions 38 are carried by the frame angles 2| and 22. It is to be noted as in Figs. 4, 9v and 10 that these frame angle members each carry an irregularly shaped plate 39 to more adequately accommodate the gear and pinion shafts above mentioned.

To rotate the shaft 40, I provide a reduction gear motor 42, which is mounted on a plate 43 carried by the through beam 24 and an additional beam 44 extending beneath the two angles 2I and secured toV them, as indicated in Fig. 1. The reducing` gear motor may be of any recognized type having within its casing not only the field and armature but suitable gearing reducing the speed of the armature with relation to the shaft 40 which is rotatably connected to the motor shaft. The simple operation of the motor 42 therefore may shift the two individual hoist frames and the bridge as a unit in either direction.

The Winding mechanism is carried by the individual hoist frame at one end of the crane directly beneath the trackway, which mechanism is best shown in Fig. 4. As there shown, there are secured to the bottom flanges of the frame members 2I suitable depending brackets 45, which are provided with bottom caps 46 and bolts 4l by which they embrace and support the housing 5U of the automobile-like driving mechanism. Suitably mounted in each housing are a pair of aligned shafts, one of which is shown at 5I in Fig. 7. These shafts at their adjacent ends are rigidly connected with a suitable gear, as, for instance, a bevel gear, which may mesh with a bevel pinion on a driving shaft 52, though a worm and worm wheel may be employed in place of the bevelled pinion and bevelled gear, if desired. In either case this reduction gearing is mounted in a centrol enlargement 53 of the housing. The driving shaft 52 is connected by a suitable coupling with worm reduction gearing mounted in a casing 55 and driven by a hoist motor 5'I. The hoist motor, warm reduction gearing and an electric control box 58 are all mounted on a cross plate 59, secured to the extensions of the bridge beams 24. Accordingly, the operation of the hoist motor will rotate in unison the two shafts 5I at greatly reduced speeds.

Rotatably mounted on the end portions of the housing 50 are sleeves 60, Figs. 4 and '7, supported by roller bearings 6I between the sleeve and housing. The end of the sleeve is connected to a head 63 on a driving shaft 5I, all after the manner of automobile construction. The driven sleeve 60 has an external flange 64, which is bolted t a similar flange of a hollow drum B5. The other end of the drum carries a short stud 66, which has bearings in a bracket S'I, suitably supported by the two angle beams of the individual frame 2I.

The construction described provides a dual hoist in which each drinn is adapted to have two cables wound upon it, one cable from each drum depending directly to the load or to a suitable cradle connected to the load, while the other cable from that drum extends horizontally over a sheave at the weaving end of the crane and then depends to the load or cradle.

As shown, there are two cables I0 at the power end of the frame which depend vertically, then pass beneath the sheaves 'I2 on a rectangular cradle 14, and then extend upwardly slightly diagonally as a 10a, being anchored at 'I5 to brackets 16 secured to one of the frame bars 2l. Two other cables 'II pass from the drums 65 over sheaves I'I mounted in individual carriages 80 at the weaving end of the crane, and then pass downwardly about sheaves 12a on the cradle and then upwardly as at lla, being anchored at 8| to the carriage 8D. The respective shafts of the cradle sheaves each carry a depending looped shackle S. Accordingly there are four of these shackles adapted to engage four hooks b, carried adjacent the eaves of a demoimtable body B, illustrated in Fig. 8.

It follows from the construction described that when the motor 'I is operated the reduction gearing causes the two drums 65 to rotate at a comparatively slow speed to pull up on the four cable reaches, thus elevating the cradle or the demountable body while maintaining the same horizontal.

At the weaving end of the crane the two sheaves 11 are, as heretofore stated, mounted in individual carriages 80. Each of these carriages is of the form shown in Figs. 3, 11 and l2, and comprises a downwardly facing trough-shaped member between the legs of which is a shaft carrying the sheave. Intermediate the carriage is cut out to extend beneath the individual hoist frame 22. The two end portions of the carriage which extend upwardly on the opposite sides of such frame rigidly carry inwardly projecting studs 83. 'I'he inward portion of each of these studs is formed into or carries the inner raceway of a ball-bearing (Fig. l2). The outer raceway of this bearing is a ring 85. Each of these rings snugly engages between the flanges of a respective small channel beam 8G, secured to the outer face of respective angle bars 22.

Extending between the lower legs of each carriage and suitably secured thereto as by welding are long pipes 90, each of which extends substantially parallel with the bridge to a point bcneath the other hoist frame 2l. In this region each pipe is formed into an eye, through which passes a vertical pin 9|, pivoting the pipe to the frame directly above the hoist drum axis.

It results from the construction described that the pipes form radius rods for the two carriages 80, and accordingly if these carriages are moved along the hoist frame 22, they shift the position of the cable supporting sheaves ll without changing the distance between them and the winding drums and thus effect the weaving desired without interfering with the level support of the body. In such weaving the outer members of the ball-bearings constitute trolley wheels and travel in a very flat arc on the flange of the small channel supports 86.

The weaving of the carriages 8l] is accomplished by an electric motor carried between them. To each carriage is pivotally connected a link 95. The free ends of these links overlap each other and are pivoted to a crank pin on a crank 91 on a shaft 98 of suitable reduction gearing within a casing IUD. This gearing is connected by a coupling with the shaft of the weaving motor |05. The casing and motor are shown as mounted on brackets IBS and l'l secured to the underside of the frame angles 22 and extending toward the outside thereof. The operation of this weaving motor in one direction or the other through the links 95 shifts the two carriages in unison in either direction, as desired, to positions on either side of the normal up to a distance equal to the length of the crank 91, as indicated in Fig. 10. The links 9i have a ball and socket connection with the carriages, as indicated at |09 in Fig. l.

Any suitable arrangement of switches may be employed for controlling the various motors, preferably from a single point accessible below the hoist, as will be well understood. It is convenient to run the conductors from the weaving motor to the electric control box on the other side of the crane, which also receives the conductors from the hoist motor and trolleying motor. This control box may contain switches operated mechanically by depending cables, or electric conductors may depend therefrom to a push-button control, as illustrated at llt and lll in Fig. 8, or the conductors may extend to any suitable region, as will be readily understood.

It will also be observed that the structure both for the individual frames and the bridge is very simple, comprising ordinary rolled structural members suitably secured together. The bridge is extremely light, as it carries no load and is to some extent counter-balanced by the weight of the motors on the outer side of the individual frames. The construction adapts itself to the employment of standard motors and standard reduction gearing, while the main power mechanism is of demonstrated automobile construction. Since such power mechanism is underslung from the frame supports, it may be readily lowered to the ground for repair without disturbing the crane frame whenever occasion arises.

It is apparent that I have provided an effective out-of-door traveling crane or trolley hoist in which the raising mechanism, trolleying mechanism, and weaving mechanisms are all effectively supported. The raising mechanism is powerful and is effectively carried adjacent the supporting track, so that bending moments in the central region of the frame are avoided. lThis raising mechanism, as well as the trolleying and weaving mechanisms are so devised that theyrequire comparatively little head room. It should also be noticed that when the power is cut off, all of the mechanisms are self-locking, avoiding the necessity for brakes.

I claim:

1. In a hoist, the combination of two individual parallel frames, a bridge rigidly connected to the two frames and having through longitudinal bars extending beneath one of the frames and beyond it to form cantilever beams, power mechanism carried by such cantilevered beams, winding mechanism operated by the power mechanism, and cables operated by the winding mechanism.

2. In a hoist, the combination of two individual trolley frames, a bridge rigidly connected with the two frames, a pair of winding drums and power mechanism for operating them, said power mechanism and drums being carried by the hoist beyond the bridge, sheaves at the other end of the hoist beyond the bridge, cables passing from the winding drums downwardly, and other cables passing from the winding drums laterally and depending over said sheaves.

3. In a trolley hoist, the combination of two individual frames, each adapted to extend onto opposite sides and beneath an I-beam trackway, wheels carried by the frames riding on the lower anges of such trackways, a bridge rigidly connected to the two frames, whereby both frames move as a unit, a pair of winding drums in alignment with each other carried by one of the frames directly beneath the adjacent I-beam, a pair of sheaves carried by the other frame directly beneath the I-beam supporting that frame, and a pair of cables on each winding drum one of which cables depends and the other of which extends laterally and over the sheaves and then depends.

4. A hoist having raising cables depending in four regions corresponding to the corners of a quadrilateral, said hoist having two trolley frames, each provided with wheels for riding on a track, a bridge connecting the frames, winding means for supporting the cables and power means for operating the winding means, said winding and power means being'disposed beyond one end of the bridge for substantially relieving the bridge of the weight and operating reactions of the power and winding means, and means for shifting the two cables in the region of one of the trolley frames with reference to the cables in the region oi the other trolley frame.

5. In a trolley hoist, the combination of two individual frames, each having wheels adapted to ride on a supporting trackway, said frames extending beneath the trackway, a cable supporting mechanism carried by each frame beneath the trackway, a lateral bridge connected with each frame, means for shifting the cable support beneath one of the trackways with reference to the cable support beneath the other, and mechanism having a cantilever support on one of the frames disposed beyond the same from the other frame for winding in the cables simultaneously.

6. In a trolley hoist, the combination -of two individual frames extending lengthwise of a pair of parallel trackways, each frame having wheels riding on the respective trackway, a bridge rigidly connected to the two frames and having through longitudinal bars extending beneath one of the frames and beyond it to form cantilever beams, power mechanism carried by the cantilevered beams, winding mechanism supported by the adjacent individual frame and operated by the power mechanism, cable supports carried by the other individual frame, cables operated by the winding mechanism, some depending directly and others passing over said cable supports, and mechanism for shifting the said cable supports with reference to said winding mechanism.

'7. In a hoist, the combination with means for supporting a pair of cables, means for operating the two cables simultaneously, a shiftable support for one of the cables, and a radius rod connecting said support with the region adjacent the support of the other cable.

8. In a hoist, the combination of a pair of winding drums, a pair of sheaves, such four members being located at the four corners of a quadrilateral, a pair of cables winding on each drum, one of said cables passing laterally and depending over one of the sheaves, shiftable supports for the two sheaves, and a radius rod connecting each support with a region of the hoist adjacent the corresponding winding drum.

9. In a trolley hoist, the combination of two frames, wheels thereon adapted to track on two supports, a bridge connecting the frames, cable winding mechanism adjacent one of the frames, shiftable sheaves adjacent the other frame, cables passing from the winding mechanism laterally and depending over the sheaves, and radius rods pivoted at one end adjacent the winding mechanism and connected with the shiftable sheaves.

l0. In a trolley hoist, the combination of a pair of parallel frames having wheels for supporting them on the lower ilanges of a pair of I-beam trackways, a bridge rigidly connected to said frames, a pair of winding drums supported beneath one of the frames, a pair of shiftable sheaves supported beneath the other frame, cables extending beneath the winding drums over the sheaves and then depending, and radius rods pivoted to the frame carrying the Winding drums and connected at their other ends with the shiftable sheaves.

11. In a trolley hoist, the combination of a pair of frames each having wheels for supporting it on a trackway, a bridge connecting the frames, a pair of aligned winding drums supported by one of the frames beneath it, mechanism for operating the winding drums as a unit, a pair of shiftable carriages supported by the other frame beneath it, means for shifting the carriages as a unit relative to the frame carrying them, and a pair of radius rods pivoted to the frame carrying the drums and connected to the carriages.

12. In a hoist the combination of a frame adapted to extend onto opposite sides of a supporting trackway, said frame having local trackways on its own sides, a carriage beneath the supporting trackway, said carriage having rolling means occupying and riding on said frame trackways in a manner to support the carriage, and a cable support on said carriage.

13. The combination of a pair of frames adapted to extend longitudinally of trackways and having wheels riding on the trackways, a bridge rigidly connecting said frames whereby they move as a unit, one of said frames having a pair of tracks on its opposite sides, a carriage extending beneath that frame and upstanding on opposite sides thereof in embracing relation thereto, supporting means carried by the upstanding portions of said carriage riding on the frame trackways, a sheave mounted on the carriage, cable winding mechanism carried by the frame at the other end of the hoist, a cable extending from the winding mechanism and depending over the sheave, and means for shifting the carriage relative to the frame carrying it.

lll. In a trolley hoist, the combination of a pair of frames having wheels adapted to ride on supporting trackways, a bridge connecting the frames, individual tracks on opposite sides of one of the frames, a pair of carriages beneath the latter frame having portions extending upwardly onto opposite sides of the frame, said i portions carrying rolling means engaging the individual trackways on the frame, a motor carried by that frame, gearing driven by the motor, and links connecting the gearing with the two carriages whereby they may be moved as a unit.

15. In a hoist, the combination with the frame, of individual trackways on the frame, a pair of carriages, rolling means carried by said carriages engaging the trackways on the frame, said carriages comprising downwardly facing trough-like members carrying sheaves between the legs of the members, and a pipe extending between the legs of the member above the sheave and rigidly connected to the member, means for pivoting the other end of the pipe to the frame, and a cable passing over the sheave.

16. In a hoist of the character described, the combination of a frame adapted to extend onto opposite sides of a supporting trackway and having wheels riding on the trackway, said frame having channel shaped trackways on its opposite sid-es, a carriage extending beneath the frame and having portions upstanding on opposite sides of the trackways, horizontal studs carried by said upstanding portion, and rolling bearings mounted on said studs, there being an outer race member for each bearing comprising an annular ring occupying the space within the channels, and riding on the lower ange thereof.

17. In a trolley hoist of the character described, the combination of a pair of frames associated with individual parallel supporting trackways, wheels on each frame engaging the corresponding trackway, a bridge rigidly connecting the two frames, cable winding mechanism supported by one of the frames having a pair of drums in alignment, local trackways on the outer sides of the other frame, a pair of carriages associated with the latter frame lying beneath that frame and extending onto opposite sides thereof, rolling means carried by said carriages engaging the local trackways on the frame, said carriages having downwardly extending portions carrying shafts, sheaves on said shafts, radius rods connected to the respective carriages, means for pivoting the other ends of the radius rods to the other frame adjacent the corresponding winding drum, a cable passing from each drum over the corresponding sheave, a motor, and mechanism operated thereby for shifting said carriages simultaneously.

18. A trolley hoist comprising trolley wheel supporting end frame portionsA and a bridge co-nnecting the same, a pair of cable actuating drums and driving mechanism therefor including an elongated housing disposed adjacent and carried by one of said end portions, parallel thereto, shaft means in the housing connected with the drums, gearing in the housing for driving the shaft means, a cantilever support on the said end portion which carries the housing, projecting therefrom in a direction opposite the other end portion, and power means on said support drivingly connected with said gearing.

19. A hoist having spaced interconnected end frame portions each having trolley wheels adapted to ride on respective trackways, cable supporting means on the hoist with cables depending therefrom in the regions of respective said end portions, and mechanism for winding the cables comprising power means having a cantilever support disposed beyond one end portion in a direction away from the other end Portion, and a self-contained double winding drum unit including drums, driving means and bearing supports therefor removably carried on the hoist inwardly from the cantilever support and on the underside of the hoist, and drivingly connected with the power means.

20. In a trolley hoist, spaced bridge-connected trolley frames adapted to ride on parallel tracks, each frame carrying a cable support for cables adapted to be power actuated for raising and lowering opposite sides or ends of a load, the support for one cable being adapted to be horizontally shifted to align the load with an underneath support, and the support for another cable comprising a drum connected with both cables and having a drive shaft, and separate power mechanisms one operatively connected with the shaft for winding the cables and one having a reciprocating connection with the horizontally shiftable support, both power mechanisms having canitlever supports disposed outwardly fro-m respective trolley frames.

BENJAMIN F. FITCH. 

